(MENAFN- Khaleej Times)

After a spectacular opening ceremony and stunning fireworks to celebrate the UAE's 54th National Day, Desert Vipers held their nerve at Dubai International Stadium to win a low-scoring opener of the ILT20 on Tuesday.

The Vipers could not have hoped for a sweeter revenge against Dubai Capitals in what was a rematch of last season's final, which they lost on the same ground early this year.

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On Tuesday, the Vipers hardly put a foot wrong after winning the toss.

Their bowlers maintained a solid line, rarely giving the Capitals easy opportunities to score, restricting them to 150 for eight on what was a pretty good wicket to bat.

In reply, the Vipers reached home with four wickets and six balls to spare.

Wicketkeeper-batter Andries Gous (58 off 36 balls, 6 fours, 3 sixes) was outstanding in the powerplay for the Vipers, dismantling the Capitals bowling attack with superb shot-making in his brilliant 50-run opening partnership off just 28 balls with Pakistan star Fakhar Zaman (26 off 15 balls).

The Capitals did get a chance of staging a stunning fightback when the Vipers lost a flurry of wickets, slumping to 109 for four.

They lost a couple of more wickets, but Dan Lawrence (19 not out off 16 balls) and Khuzaima Tanveer (12 not out off 8 balls) remained calm to drag the team over the line for a well-deserved victory.

Earlier, Capitals batters, including West Indies star Rovman Powell (39 off 22 balls), failed to convert their starts as the Vipers kept getting wickets at regular intervals.

Pakistan star Naseem Shah (4-0-30-1) led the Vipers' attack brilliantly as David Payne (4-1-26-2), Noor Ahmad (4-0-25-2) and Khuzaima Tanveer (4-0-35-2) earned crucial breakthroughs.

But it was Gous who won the man-of-the-match for his sparkling half-century.

"It was a bit slow up front, but it started to get better when we were batting. I've come in with confidence, so it is something I want to keep going," he said.

"It's good to get that first fifty behind as we go into the rest of the tournament, they are some very good teams.”

Brief Scores:

Desert Vipers beat Dubai Capitals by four wickets

Dubai Capitals 150/8 in 20 overs (Rovman Powell 39, Mohammad Nabi 29, Shayan Jahangir 19, Noor Ahmad 2 for 25, David Payne 2 for 26, Khuzaima Tanveer 2 for 35)

Desert Vipers 151/6 in 19 overs (Andries Gous 58, Fakhar Zaman 26, Dan Lawrence 19 not out, Waqar Salamkheil 2 for 18, Scott Currie 2 for 36)

Player of the Match: Andries Gous

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